The Mercury Cougar of the 1980s was an interesting specimen, just like its badge-engineered sibling, the Lincoln Mark VII. Both of these cars featured bulbous bodywork over luxurious interiors while purporting to be a crossover of sport and luxury. The “XR7” moniker in Cougar-land was seemingly used as a way to dispel the notion that this was a bloated luxury car, especially when equipped with the 5.0L V8 under the hood. This Cougar has those features and the added bonus of very low mileage, almost certainly signifying it belonged to a senior citizen. Find the Cougar here on craigslist with 17,000 miles for $16,500.
Ah, the lipstick-red cloth interior: it was practically a standard feature in the 1980s Mercury Cougar. This is also a surefire way to confirm that the low mileage is accurate given the interior appears to remain in as-new condition. Of course, I’ve always found that with the exception of particularly tired leather seats, the Cougar and Mark VII of this era generally look pretty presentable even with high miles; they’re sort of like the W123 chassis Mercedes-Benzes that look fresh even with six-digits rolled over on the odometer. One can only assume all of the power and convenience features still work in a car that’s seen such little use.
The 5.0L V8 looks at home in this cavernous engine bay, and the factory labels and warning stickers are all still so fresh and vibrant that any doubt is practically erased about the low mileage claims. The seller doesn’t report any mechanical issues but we also don’t learn much about its maintenance history. Obviously, the 5.0 is not a particularly difficult engine to maintain, but we’d still like to see at least some indication of annual fluid changes and perhaps a new air filter and some belts. If this time capsule coupe was owned by a senior citizen, I have little doubt the Cougar saw the local Mercury dealer on an annual basis.
Wow – a seller who actually under-reports the mileage! That never happens. The digital gauge cluster was another way many of the domestic brands were trying to position themselves as upmarket companies, especially in an era when the word “digital” seemed to describe so many different features and qualities. While the XR7 badge didn’t transform the Cougar into anything more than a comfortable cruiser, there’s nothing wrong with a car that loafs along contently with the audible burble of a V8 and extremely comfortable bucket seats inside. What do you think of the seller’s asking price for this low-mileage Cougar?
I happen to love these cars and remember them fondly. I’d prefer a more aggressively styled anniversary car, but this is a nice cruiser. I’d be interested for under $10k but would even think about 16.5 for a Cougar. Maybe, maybe a Mark 7, but not this. That’s not to say it’s not worth the ask, I don’t know what its value is, but it’s not worth it to me.
Lovely appointments in the cabin, on the Mercury line. This car would make a fine grand touring automobile. Only addition would be A luggage 🧳 rack on the trunk. I believe some Cougars were so equipped.
Recall my of my friend having 1988 5.0 Thunderbird P-51 which is the same Merc XR7 sister car with upgraded cold air kit and H-pipe exhaust. Despite being bigger and heavier than Mustang held its own back int he 80’s with mid size comfort.
Having owned a 1998 Mark VII, and selling Ford’s for over 10 years. It’s ludicrous to compare the two. The Mark VII would eat up the Cougar in every category. The engine, interior, looks, and performance were all in the Lincoln’s favor. It may be the favorite in all the cars I have owned, it didn’t have a flaw and was a blast to drive, it was a definite Mustang and Camaro killer. I was driving from Tucson to Albuquerque, it was 6am, brand new asphalt, new Michelin’s, fresh oil, and I drove 130 mph for well over an hour. It was the best hour of driving I have ever experienced, telephone poles went by like fence posts. You really have to concentrate when you go that fast.It was a day I’ll never forget, couldn’t afford that now, burning premium fuel which it required. Good times
Hello, vance .. cool your jets 🚀 lol.
The author compares a Lincoln mark 7.. not a mark 8.. like yours.
1988 XR7 = chrome mirrors & door handles, + 4 spoke mags….??
And column shift?
I had an 88 tbird with the 5.0 bought it used in 1992 with 32,000 miles on it. Best 6900 i ever spent. The digital speedo was an interesting thing, in miles per hour it only went up so high before it stopped increasing, don’t remember where it stopped but if I switched it to kilometers per hour it kept on going till I ran out of nerve. The fastest i ever got it was somewhere over 220 kph. I always thought the couger looked like they took the tbirds rear side window and flipped it upside down
I had a cougar XR-7 in the same year as this. Mine was black and silver. I bought it back in 1989 with 14,000 miles! It was a beautiful and comfortable car. However when it came down to it, it was cheaply made and a big old lemon. Once it hit 20,000 miles it was in tbe shop continually and I really can’t think of anything that didn’t break down on that car. Owned it 6 years to the day and was using the rear window defroster and a big old fire erupted from the defroster and the car burnt completely to the ground. I myself would never own another!!!
There was a time where it seemed every other car on the road was one of these. I was working as a mailman back when these were used cars and I think 3 or 4 of the people in my station drove these. Like everything else, you hardly see them anymore.
Looks like a great example! I’d say the T-Bird and Cougar were badge-engineered, aside from the roofline. The Mark VII had quite a few interior differences.
Anyway, this is cool with the V8 and low miles; but I must say I’m partial to the earlier turbo XR-7 with a 5mt or, even better, the two-year-only supercharged/manual MN12 version that came after this.
Have an 88 XR7 5.0 for sale. Will not kick into passing gear.
The “badge engineered sibling” was the Thunderbird. Had an 1985 and a 1988. The 85 was a tank. Zero problems. Saw 165Kilos on digital dash often as English stopped at 85mph
The 88 was a little quieter and felt the same.
I thought that the XR-7 came with a floor mounted auto shifter and the fancier alloy wheels. At least that is what I test drove when I was looking for a manual XR4-Ti.
It was a nice car, but not nearly as much fun to drive as I was looking for.
I would feel more comfortable about the seller’s price if the car were a Thunderbird. Cougars just never seem to appeal to many people or at least not in the generation this car is.
But you sure can’t beat a white car with red interior.
No no no, this era Cougars(6th Generation) sold like hotcakes, 5 of the 6 years of this generation sold over 100,000 units per year. Cougars have never sold over 100,000 units per year….since.
The 1986 Cougar sold over 135,000 cars. The 1984 year sold almost 132,000
Don’t know about where u lived…but in the East you saw them quite a bit
Not around here in western North Carolina. This is NASCAR country and so the Thunderbirds were the car of choice for the Ford guys. And the Monte Carlo SS was for the Chevy guys.
As far as the seller UNDER reporting the mileage, for all we know, the car could have 17,200 miles on it now. I’m just sayin’.
That’s not a 88 XR7. The 88’s were white, red or black monochrome paint and painted matching Mustang like rims of the same vintage. This may be a 87??
Finally someone is right about this three colors in 88 for XR-7s. Black, red, and White
Love the T birds of this era. Always thought the cougar was OK but nearly as sharp. But as has been said , poor thier gone so now even the less sleek cougar is pretty cool. Least it doesn’t have the half vynal top.
My mother had one of these Cougars. 1985 or 86 model. It was pretty good at first…but it turned into a real heap after some years. Almost drove like a truck.
She had the dang thing it seemed forever. Then one appeared on the street, parked for a long while, outside my condo bldg….in the late 2000’s. If you can believe…lol
positively fox-bodied. And a fast, luxurious exapmle (wonder if any fits my ’85, the fox waggy, ’85 ltd [dwn szed])?
That’s not an XR7 obviously. It’s an LS. Thunderbirds and Cougars of this era used the 150 hp 5.0, the same as Grand Marquis’ and Crown Vics. Only Mustangs and Mark VII’s used the 225 hp 5.0 HO. Huge difference!
toypartman: Makes sense that it’s an LS. That would verify that my memory of test driving an XR7 with floor mount shift and mustang-like alloys is correct.
I’m sure that there were other differences that I don’t recall.
That’s not an XR7